Meet the Team

Cassandra has always had a passion for the arts in one form or another. Playing music in the band from 4th through 12th grade as well as partaking in drama performances in elementary and high school. In college, Cassandra taught preschool and decided that more than anything, she wanted to work with children and help them grow. From that point on, she dove head first into an education career path. While pursuing her degree, she found a love with the Deaf Education Program at Fresno State and dove head first. Cassandra double majored and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in both Biology and Deaf Education. Students and classes with special needs have a special place in her heart.

After teaching intervention and combo support in various local school districts for 14 years, Cassandra joined Arts Enrichment For All as the Program Director. She feels as though her experience in the classroom, with students of varying abilities, as well as her experience with the arts allows her to help shape the Curriculum and Programs at Arts Enrichment For All.

Cassandra has been married to her husband, Jacob for since 2008, and together, they have 1 son, Noah, as well as 2 daughters, Zoey and McKenna. Outside of Arts Enrichment For All, Cassandra still finds time to work in the schools, travel with her family, and support her kids in all of their various activities!

Justin brings to Arts Enrichment For All 5 years of working with other local non-profit organizations to serve low income families in the Central Valley. Justin is also an instructor with Fresno City College and has been on faculty since 2020. He enjoys serving his community and looks to deepen his impact wherever he works.

Justin has been married to his wife Erin since 2007 and they have 2 daughters, Bella and Peyton.

When Justin isn’t working on projects, he loves spending time with his family, cooking, deep sea fishing, traveling and going on adventures.

Rebekah was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She began her dancing at the age of 4, participating in ballet, tap and gymnastics. During her middle school and high school years, she participated in competitive cheerleading and gymnastics. After graduating high school, she decided to take ballet more seriously and started attending open classes at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. The following summer she attended the “Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival,” a week-long dance camp in Wyoming, where she was trained in Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, and Musical Theater, trained under Ken Von Heidecke. Here she continued ballet classes virtually during the covid season, and in July of 2021 she got a scholarship to The Fini Dance Festival in Calabria, Italy. She spent a month training under Antonio Fini of New York City, as well as many other choreographers from around the world. She spent her time here training 7-8 hours a day in Aerial, contemporary, modern, and ballet. After completing her time in Italy, she soon returned to Chicago and continued to teach at Von Heidecke’s School of ballet, which is now known as VH Dance Center.

“Dance and movement will always be near and dear to her heart,” Rebekah says, “I’ve always wanted to be able to give back to others what has been given to me, which is not only the joy of dance but the quality of training I was blessed enough to receive. I couldn’t afford quality dance training, but my teachers saw something in me and decided to take a chance on me with a scholarship, and this was a privilege many don’t get. I believe that dance has shaped who I am today, and it continues to do so. There’s so much joy that comes from dance and movement, and you are constantly learning. You can never know enough, and that’s what is so beautiful about it.”

Juana started her dance journey at the age of 4 years old at Cal Arts and has been dancing ever since. She has experience in various styles throughout her life, but loves to specialize in modern technique including hip hop and contemporary. After high school, Juana performed at multiple American Conferences of Dance in Southern California. She was previously a dance major at Fresno City College, and has performed in several of their dance concerts. Currently, she is a part of California State University Fresno’s dance Ensemble. In 2021, she was hired by the City of Fresno as a lifeguard in the community pools.

In addition to teaching for Arts Enrichment for All, she teaches young children in the community how to swim and water safety. Juana considers it a blessing to be able to have spent every summer with the children in the community and to be able to connect with them. Juana feels honored to be able to fuse dance with her passion of working with children through Arts Enrichment for All

James has several passions including cheerleading, yoga, costume design, teaching, coaching, and being a Dad to his two beautiful daughters. He has worked for the United Spirit Association for fifteen years as a head instructor for summer camps, cheer competition M.C, and awards announcer. He is also an annually trained panel and deductions judge. In 2014 & 2016, cheerleading brought him to Hawaii to perform in the NFL Probowl pregame show.

In 2015 & 2017, he was invited to judge internationally in Mexico City. 2019 & 2020 he was honored to be in Rome and be a part of the New Year’s Day Parade. He is currently the Varsity Game Cheer Coach for Clovis High School and coach All-Star cheer at Clovis United. In his spare time, he creates art through costuming, makeup, and fashion. He finds motion, balance, and strength through the art of yoga and parenting.

With an older sister competing in dance as a child, Kaelyn ‘KK’ has been a part of the dance world since before she could walk. Once KK was old enough, she took off and paved her own path. She began competing at an early age and continued through High School. After high school, although her competitive career ended, she continued to educate dancers in order to foster that love of dance in them that she always had herself.

KK is well versed in many forms of dance, including contemporary, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and several others. KK is a fitness fanatic and is also a licensed High Fitness instructor. KK started college at 23 and majored in Child Development and minored in Dance. She graduated from Willow International in 2019. KK was a preschool teacher at a local preschool and loved everything about it. She is excited to keep growing in new directions, and Arts Enrichment For All gives her the avenue to do so. She is a kind hearted person and loves working with children!

Ruthie brings with her a well-rounded background. In high school, she was a Swimmer, Water Polo Player, Mexican Folklorico Dancer, and Children’s Theater Actress. She initially began her college career in Early Childhood Education, but quickly realized that her love for kids spanned multiple ages. On top of being an educator for Arts Enrichment For All, she is also currently a Middle School Swim Coach, Water Polo Coach, Soccer Coach, and Softball Coach.

Ruthie also has a passion for singing as well. She continues her love of singing by joining her church’s worship team. She feels that it is a wonderful feeling to be able to impact our youth and their lives just by continuing to pursue the things that she loved growing up, and that continue to bring her happiness currently.

Ashlin is 19 years old and is a full time student at California State University Fresno. She grew up in the competitive cheer world, and loves to tumble. She was a competitive cheerleader throughout elementary school and junior high before her love of horses fully blossomed. In high school, she competed in Barrel Racing and horse shows. Now that she is attending CSU Fresno, she is headed in the Education Career Path. Ashlin loves working with kids and is really enjoying her time with Arts Enrichment For All. She believes that outreach and growth for our children is a priority.

Brittany is a self-proclaimed “Boot Scootin” country dancer with a heart full of twang and a passion for line dancing and education. Brittany graduated from California State University Fresno with a degree in Agriculture Education. Brittany has served as a 4-H leader for Madera County for 6 years, allowing her passion for agriculture and education to flourish. Brittany has been involved in the Country dance community for 4 years.

In Brittany’s spare time, she competes in pageants across the country and currently holds a national title. Pageants allow Brittany to be a voice and advocate for Youth Education. Her role as a teacher at Arts Enrichment For All gives her an extension to her voice and allows her to be able to work one on one with our youth, giving them access to Arts and Education as well.